SEDL / STP / STP631-EB / STP35546S

Fracture Characteristics of Plain and Welded 3-In.-Thick Aluminum Alloy Plate at Various Temperatures

Nelson, FG
Senior engineers, Engineering Properties and Design Division, Alcoa Laboratories, Alcoa Center, Pa.

Brownhill, DJ
Senior engineers, Engineering Properties and Design Division, Alcoa Laboratories, Alcoa Center, Pa.

Pages: 25    Published: Jan 1977

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Abstract

The tensile, notch tensile, tear, and, in some cases, fracture-toughness properties (KQ and K^Ic, ksi √in.) have been evaluated for 3-in.-thick 5083-H321, 5086-H32, 6061-T651, and 7005-T6351 plain plate and gas metal arc (GMA) welds in 5083-H321 (5183 filler), 6061-T651 (4043 and 5356 fillers), and 7005-T6351 (5356 filler) with no subsequent thermal treatment. The tests were made in the longitudinal, long-transverse and short-transverse orientations for the plain plate and in the “cross-weld” orientation for the welded panels. The tests were made at room temperature and generally at −100 and −320°F.

The fracture indexes, that is, notch-yield ratio and unit-propagation energy values, rank the plate and welds. The KQ and K^Ic values have been developed for the 6061-T651 and 7005-T6351 plate.

For the relatively tough materials in this investigation, the notch-yield ratio versus K^Ic relationship was not useful in estimating K^Ic values. However, the unit-propagation energy values versus K^Ic relationship does appear to provide a satisfactory means of estimating K^Ic values. Estimates of K^Ic values for all the materials tested in this program have been made from this correlation.